Hosiery Assistance Apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention is an article for donning and removing hosiery whereby said article has a sock holding assembly arranged at an end distal from a user that holds a sock in an open position for donning and a grasper for removing a sock from upon a user.

INDEX TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/962,843 filed Nov. 18, 2013 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is common amongst persons who have various difficulties relating to dexterous and motile activities that the task of putting on and taking off hosiery is quite difficult. Although various articles are available to assist in this task, they most often do not perform as desired. The present invention addresses this task by providing a novel apparatus for assisting with the donning and removal of hosiery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

As generally understood, the invention includes an adjustable length of an extension tube nested within the central cavity of a main body and a sock holding assembly that holds a sock opening in an open position such that a user can don a sock held in the assembly.

In one embodiment, the present invention is a hosiery assist apparatus comprising;

a main body having a central cavity;

a telescoping member selectively extending and retracting from said main body cavity;

a locking mechanism for fixing a distance of extension of said telescoping member from said main body cavity;

a hosiery holding assembly including a pair of opposing hosiery holding arms and a tension pin to urge said arms outward one from another, said assembly constructed and arranged to hold open a sock foot entrance opening.

In one embodiment the locking mechanism is a locking ball detent system.

In one embodiment the holding arms define a region in which a foot is placed within said hosiery foot entrance opening.

In one embodiment the apparatus further comprises an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member.

In one embodiment the apparatus further comprises an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member whereby said extension and retraction is actuated with a trigger.

In one embodiment the apparatus further comprises an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member whereby said extension and retraction is actuated with a trigger positioned on a proximal end of said apparatus.

Also contemplates is a method of donning hosiery, said method comprising the steps of:

providing an apparatus according to any of the embodiments described herein;

providing an article of hosiery having an entrance opening as is known whereby the opening is defined by a proximal entrance border;

positioning said entrance opening about the perimeter of said holding assembly;

placing one foot of a user into said hosiery positioned in said holding assembly; and

moving said foot into said hosiery such that the foot is substantially within said hosiery.

In one embodiment the method further comprises including actuating a retractable grasper and grasping said hosiery on a proximal end; utilizing said grasper to move said hosiery in a proximal direction in order to place said hosiery in a desired position on a user, whereby said desired position includes positioning said entrance of said hosiery between an ankle an knee of a user's leg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross section side view of one embodiment of Prince of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view demonstrative of components of one about them in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a close-up perspective view of the grasping assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view demonstrative of the article of the present invention holding a sock.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view demonstrative of one embodiment of the present mention in position to remove a sock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention is a novel apparatus configured for the donning and removal of hosiery. As understood herein, hosiery includes, but is not limited to, all types of socks, stockings, leggings, knee highs, compression stockings, leg warmers, tights and the like. All hosiery, as is generally known and understood are formed with a foot opening that is defined and bordered by a generally circular rim of material on the proximal end. The distal end, in general, is closed and receives the foot once placed therein.

In one embodiment, apparatus 200 includes handle 10 having incorporated there with trigger 12. A first main body assembly 16 has a hollow interior cavity and a plurality of detent openings 14 along the surface, whereby each detent opening is constructed and arranged to receive a locking ball detent pin there through. First main body assembly 16 is connected to handle 10 with fastener 13. A locking ball detent system, as is known, utilizes a spring urged detent pin 18 that, when mated with a corresponding detent opening 14, causes a portion of detent pin 18 to protrude through detent opening 14. As used in the present invention, detent pin 18 is affixed to extension 220 and is used to position a desired length of extension tube 20 from with in the inner cavity of first main body assembly 16. Extension tube 20 further has incorporated thereon a grasper 22 having grip 24 on its terminal end. Grasper 22 is constructed and arranged to extend outward from extension tube 20 and subsequently retracted within the peripheral surface of extension tube 20 in channel 48. Terminal end, as understood herein is the end not connected to extension tube 20.

Support arm 26 is connected to extension tube 20 on its proximal end. The distal end of support arm 26 has pivot arm 30 constructed and arranged with a proximal cavity through which pivot spring 60 passes there through whereby the rotational motion about pivot pin 60 is controlled by pivot lock 28. In use, a user will adjust pivot lock 28 to provide for a fixed angular position when using the device of the present invention.

Hosiery assembly 400 includes an upper holder 32 arm grips 36 holder grips 38 holder arm 42 and holder arm leg wall 46.

In one embodiment, trigger 20 is operatively associated with trigger springs 50 whereby cable 54 runs through the interior of each of the first main body assembly 16 and extension tube 20. Cable 54 controls the extension of 22 at cable actuator 56. In one embodiment, trigger 12 selectively controls extension of grasper 22, retraction of grasper 22, or each of extension and retraction. Grasper 22 is utilized to help pull the hosiery in a proximal direction, towards the user in order to position the uppermost portion, being the entrance in a desired position. Additionally, as desired, grasper 22 is utilized to grasp a sock 61 and move in a distal direction to remove the sock 61.

In use, sock 61 is positioned onto assembly 700 by engaging the opening of sock 61 on sock holder arm 42. Each of stock arm grips 36, stockholder grips 38 sock grip upper holder 32 and molded rubber surface of sock grip upper holder 34 fixed the sock into position such that a user passes barefoot through the opened sock 61 held on the assembly of the present invention. Torsion spring 58 provides tension to the assembly that urges sock 61 open in order for a user to insert their foot.

Additionally, handle 10 has a trigger 12. When pressed by a user, spool 52 is engaged that facilitates a smoother up and down motion as the device pulls, through cable 54. Grasper 22 located at the bottom of the telescoping pipe 20 that engages the sock 61 for the user to take it out as demonstrated in system 600 and shown in FIG. 9. The trigger and the hook are each spring loaded and after trigger 12 is released, each of grasper 22 and trigger 12 to their initial position resting through urging pressure of two torsion springs (50) located inside the handle.

The top part of the sleeve of the sock is folded over the device. Hooking the sleeve edges in the sox holder grips 36 and 32. Those grips have over-molded rubber 38 and 34 for better grip. Sock 61 hangs through the inside on the sox holder arms 42, that also have over-molded rubber 44 as seen in system 400 of FIG. 7.

When the sock is on the device, the user, slide his/her foot in the sock. The sox holder arms opens 42 as seen in assembly 500 of FIG. 8, thanks to four torsion springs 58 located in the joint of the sox holder arms 4) and the pivot arm 30 as seen in FIG. 7. Creating a pivot point for the sox holder arms to open and close for more space and comfort for the user to put their foot into the sock 61 as seen in FIG. 8.

While the invention has been described in its preferred form or embodiment with some degree of particularity, it is understood that this description has been given only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, fabrication, and use, including the combination and arrangement of parts, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A hosiery assist apparatus comprising; a main body having a central cavity; a telescoping member selectively extending and retracting from said main body cavity; a locking mechanism for fixing a distance of extension of said telescoping member from said main body cavity; a hoisery holding assembly including a pair of opposing hoisery holding arms and a tension pin to urge said arms outward one from another, said assembly constructed and arranged to hold open a sock foot entrance opening.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said locking mechanism is a locking ball detent system.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding arms define a region in which a foot is placed within said hoisery foot entrance opening.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member whereby said extension and retraction is actuated with a trigger.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an extendable and retractable grasper on said telescoping member whereby said extension and retraction is actuated with a trigger positioned on a proximal end of said apparatus.
 7. A method of donning hosiery, said method comprising the steps of: providing an apparatus of claim 1; providing an article of hosiery having an entrance opening; positioning said entrance opening about the perimeter of said holding assembly; placing one foot of a user into said hosiery positioned in said holding assembly; and moving said foot into said hosiery such that the foot is substantially within said hosiery.
 8. The method of claim 7 further including actuating a retractable grasper and grasping said hosiery on a proximal end; utilizing said grasper to move said hosiery in a proximal direction in order to place said hosiery in a desired position on a user, whereby said desired position includes positioning said entrance of said hosiery between an ankle an knee of a user's leg. 